Department for Transport

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Lord Berkeley: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to changes to travel patterns caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, what plans they have to review the forecasts in their report HS2 Phase One full business case, published on 15 April 2020, specifically the findings that (1) passenger demand between (a) London and Birmingham/Coventry, and (b) London and Manchester/Stockport/Manchester Airport would grow by over 80 per cent, and (2) passenger demand between London and Glasgow would more than double, by 2036–7.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: The impact of COVID on demand for travel continues to unfold, and the Department is undertaking research and surveys to develop demand scenarios and understand possible impacts on business cases across the transport portfolio.The Phase 2b Western Leg strategic outline business case, due to be published in early 2022, will use demand scenarios that explore the impact of COVID to inform the business case. This will be the first time an initial assessment of the pandemic’s impact on the HS2 project will have been undertaken.HS2 is a long-term project and delivers travel opportunities over a long period of time (i.e. in excess of 100 years), limiting any shorter-term effects of COVID on travel patterns. The project will open up new employment and regeneration opportunities for millions of people, contribute to regional and national economic development, and have long-lasting impacts which we are not able to fully model or appraise.

Railways

Lord Berkeley: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether in theirregular updates toDomestic transport use by mode: Great Britain, since 1 March 2020 they will provide separate data for the rail sector on passenger and freight traffic to match the data on cars, light commercial vehicles, HGVs, London buses, and buses outside London, provided for the road sector.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: This publication table makes public the high-level metrics used by the Cabinet Office for monitoring COVID-19 response which focus on the behaviour of the travelling public. These metrics do not include rail freight. Road goods vehicles are included in these metrics as they contribute to total road transport demand, and thereby impact upon car users’ experience of the transport network.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Heating

Lord Truscott: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of theappropriate heat sourceto replace redundant gas boilers with; and if such a heat source includes heat pumps, what plans they have to make these more (1) available, (2) practical, (3) efficient, and (4) cost-effective.

Lord Callanan: Achieving net zero carbon emissions will require almost all UK homes to be supplied with low-carbon heating by 2050. Electrification through heat pumps and hydrogen both offer potential pathways to achieve heat decarbonisation, supported by other potential solutions including biogas and heat networks, and we expect 2050 to include a mix of these technologies. Currently, electrification of heat is the only pathway to net zero that has been proven to work at scale in buildings. That is why we have committed to grow the heat pump market to 600,000 installations a year by 2028. This commitment provides a clear long-term signal to industry on the expected scale of heat pump deployment, providing certainty and enabling investment. The Government is also undertaking a comprehensive package of measures to support the transition, including targeted public investment, proposals for regulation to decarbonise buildings off the gas grid, and establishing a new market-based mechanism. The full package of measures will be set out in our forthcoming Heat and Buildings Strategy. Additionally, the Government is currently trialling solutions to help overcome barriers to heat pump deployment as part of the £14.6 million Electrification of Heat Demonstration Project, which seeks to demonstrate the feasibility of a mass rollout of the technology by installing heat pumps in a representative sample of homes across the UK. The above actions by industry and the Government will help to build supply chains and develop a more cost-effective heat pump offer for consumers.

Boilers

Lord Truscott: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to ban gas boilers, and over what timescale.

Lord Callanan: In order to achieve net zero emissions, we will have to transition completely away from traditional natural gas boilers for heating homes on the gas grid. There are a number of options with the potential to play an important role in decarbonising heat, including heat networks, heat pumps, hydrogen and biogas. The Government is planning to publish a Heat and Buildings Strategy in due course, which will set out the actions we will take for reducing emissions from buildings.

Offshore Drilling: Shetland

Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the remarks of the Scotland Office Minister David Duguid on 16 August, what plansthey have to deliver a programme of retaining oil from the Cambo oil field in barrels; what such a programme would cost; and what long-term environmental impacts have been identified.

Lord Callanan: No decision has yet been taken by regulators, the Oil and Gas Authority and the Offshore Petroleum Regulator for Environment and Decommissioning, on the request for approval for the Cambo field to proceed to production.

Department of Health and Social Care

Dementia: Coronavirus

Lord McColl of Dulwich: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whetherthe behavioural and psychological symptoms of people with dementia have worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lord Bethell: NHS England and NHS Improvement have collaborated with the South East Clinical Delivery and Networks to publish guidance for primary care networks and care homes on dementia and older people’s mental health, which includes ways to recognise and support people experiencing behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia. They have also made guidance and resources available to address the rehabilitation needs of people living with dementia, including the ‘Dementia wellbeing in COVID-19’ resource.We have commissioned research through the National Institute for Health Research on how to manage or mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on people with dementia and their carers living in the community and concise helpful summary leaflets were produced.We will be setting out our plans on dementia for England for future years in due course.

Dementia: Social Services

Lord McColl of Dulwich: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that the needs and views of people with dementia are taken into account inany workforce plan that forms part of the forthcoming social care reform proposals.

Lord Bethell: We are working closely with local and national partners from across the sector, including those with dementia and lived experience of the social care system, to ensure that our approach to reform is informed by diverse perspectives. Together with stakeholders we are considering how we build back fairer to deliver the sustainable improvements to adult social care that we all want to see. We will bring forward proposals for reform later in 2021, including for the social care workforce.

Dementia: Coronavirus

Lord McColl of Dulwich: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to address the rehabilitative needs of people with dementia who have experienced a significant deterioration in their symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lord Bethell: The NHS Long Term Plan commits to the Enhanced Health in Care Homes service model that sets out best practice for dementia care including rehabilitation and reablement.NHS England and NHS Improvement have also made guidance and resources available to address the rehabilitation needs of people living with dementia, including the ‘Dementia wellbeing in COVID-19’ resource.In addition, we have commissioned research through the National Institute for Health Research on how to manage or mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on people with dementia and their carers living in the community and concise helpful summary leaflets were produced.We will be setting out our plans on dementia for England for future years in due course.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

Conflict Resolution: Females

Baroness Hodgson of Abinger: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many officials are working on the Women, Peace and Security Agenda in the Whitehall headquarters of the (1) Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, and (2) Ministry of Defence.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: Officials in the FCDO and MOD, centrally and across the global network, work collectively to deliver strategic outcomes as part of the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda and wider work. Given the breadth of the WPS agenda and global focus, information on the number of officials working on this issue is not held centrally.

Tunisia: Politics and Government

Baroness Goudie: To ask Her Majesty's Government what stepsthey are taking tosupport Tunisia to help ensure it remains ademocracy.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The Minister for the Middle East and North Africa, James Cleverly MP, was in Tunisia 7-9 June to co-chair the inaugural UK-Tunisia Association Council. Bolstering trade, furthering good governance, and supporting Tunisia to develop its economy are all key aspects of our engagement that will enhance Tunisia's resilience and stability. UK programmes have supported political and economic reform, strengthening Tunisia's democratic transition. These have included £385,000 to support implementation of public sector economic reform, and £3million through the British Council to support English language and core skills in schools to address youth unemployment.

Tunisia: Press Freedom

Baroness Goudie: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessmentthey have made of reports of journalists and bloggers being (1) assaulted, (2) detained, and (3) tried in military courts, in Tunisia.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: We are concerned by reports of journalists and bloggers being detained. We regularly raise our concerns about human rights with the Tunisian authorities, and will continue to do so.

Turkey: Iraq

Baroness Cox: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have madeof reports of the Turkish bombing of a hospital in Sinjar on 17 August; and what representations they have made about these reports to the governments of (1) Iraq, and (2) Turkey.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: We regularly reiterate the need for dialogue and cooperation between Iraq and Turkey to combat terrorism, ensure regional security, and protect civilians whilst respecting Iraqi sovereignty. Reports of an attack on a hospital are deeply worrying and it is important that the full facts are established. We have repeatedly called on all parties to uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law, and we are monitoring the situation closely.The UK welcomed last year's Sinjar Agreement as a critical step to stabilise the region- it is vital that all groups cooperate with its implementation.

Israel: Palestinians

Lord Polak: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the UK's investment of (1) effort, and (2) resources, into the advancement of the Middle East peace process.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: We firmly believe a just and lasting resolution that ends the occupation and delivers peace for both Israelis and Palestinians is long overdue. That is why we support steps to increase understanding and dialogue between the parties that can help create the conditions for meaningful negotiations. We will continue to fund peacebuilding projects focused on Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

Israel: Palestinians

Lord Polak: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's response to Freedom of Information Request FOI2021/07873, dated 23 June, how the disclosure of funding allocated to the advancement of the Middle East peace process would "potentially damage" international relationships.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: Following an internal review, the international relations exemption has now been withdrawn and information will be released shortly.

Overseas Aid

Lord Polak: To ask Her Majesty's Government why they do not list (1) the Norwegian Refugee Council, or (2) other partners, on their Development Tracker website as receiving funding, despite that information being publicly available elsewhere.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: Development Tracker presents information on partners who have received funds from Her Majesty's Government (HMG) in multiple ways depending on how the funding is reported by both the Government department and the implementing partner.From information reported by the FCDO and other government departments, partners who have received funding are listed as implementing partners on country pages [1] and on project pages [2]. Projects relating to specific partners can also be viewed using Development Tracker's search function [3].When partners publish data reporting that the UK has been a funder, they will appear on the Partners tab of a Development Tracker project page. There may therefore be instances where the Norwegian Refugee Council or other partners who receive funds from HMG are not listed within the partners tab as they have not referred to HMG as a funding organisation.[1] For example, on the South Sudan country page, the Norwegian Refugee Council is listed here https://devtracker.fcdo.gov.uk/countries/SS/[2] For example, the Norwegian Refugee Council is listed here https://devtracker.fcdo.gov.uk/projects/GB-1-204019[3] For example, search for Norwegian Refugee Council as shown here https://devtracker.fcdo.gov.uk/search?query=Norwegian%20Refugee%20Council&inclu deClosed=0

Tunisia: Politics and Government

The Marquess of Lothian: To ask Her Majesty's Government whatassessment they have made ofthe current political situation in Tunisia.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK is closely monitoring the situation in Tunisia. We believe that the solution to Tunisia's core challenges can only be achieved through the principles of democracy, transparency, human rights, and free speech. We call on all parties to uphold Tunisia's reputation as a tolerant and open society and to protect the democratic gains of the 2011 revolution.

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe

The Marquess of Lothian: To ask Her Majesty's Government when the Foreign Secretary last spoke to the Foreign Minister of Iran to secure the release of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe to allow her to return to her family in the UK.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: We remain committed to doing all we can to secure Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe's return home. Iran has put her through a cruel and intolerable ordeal and we have called on them, in the strongest possible terms, to end her suffering and allow her to be reunited with her family. The Foreign Secretary continues to raise the UK's serious concerns about Iran's practice of detaining foreign and dual nationals with his Iranian counterpart. Our Ambassadors in Tehran have regularly raised our detainees with the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Ministry of Defence

Afghanistan: Immigration

Lord Empey: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many (1) individuals, and (2) families, have had their applications to be relocated to the UK under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy refused.

Baroness Goldie: Regrettably we will not be able to evacuate all those we would hope to, and due to the pace at which we continue to receive and assess applications for relocation under the Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy (ARAP), it is not possible to quantify the number of applicants that have been rejected at this time.Since its launch in April of this year, we have refused a proportion of applicants to the ARAP scheme on the grounds of eligibility. Additionally, a number of applicants were refused relocation under ARAP on the grounds of national security because we were unable to conduct an assessment due to inadequate information.Thousands of vulnerable people who are not eligible for ARAP, including women, girls and minority groups, will be welcomed to the UK as the Home Office delivers what will be one of its most ambitious resettlement schemes: the Afghan Citizens’ Resettlement Scheme. This is also separate from, and in addition to, the ARAP.

Afghanistan: Immigration

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to widen the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy to include employees of (1) UK based NGOs, and (2) UK funded projects.

Baroness Goldie: The Government is strongly committed to fulfilling its responsibilities to current and former locally employed staff in Afghanistan. The Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy (ARAP) scheme is not time-limited and will endure, remaining open indefinitely to British Nationals who remain in Afghanistan and Afghan allies who were directly employed by Her Majesty’s Government.For those not eligible under the ARAP scheme, including employees of UK based NGOs and UK funded projects, the Home Office is working quickly to establish the details of the Afghan Citizens’ Resettlement Scheme (ACRS). This scheme will provide protection for those identified as most at risk, such as women and girls. The Government has committed to take around 5,000 refugees in the first year and up to 20,000 over the coming years.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

The Marquess of Lothian: To ask Her Majesty's Government what has been the total cost of British military operations in Afghanistan since 2001.

Baroness Goldie: The total cost of British military operations in Afghanistan since 2001 (up to and including financial year 2019-20) was £22.7 billion. Details of expenditure for financial year 2020-21 will be included in the MOD's Annual Report and Accounts that will be published later this year.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what preparations they have made to provide emergency mental health support to British soldiers due to return from Afghanistan.

Baroness Goldie: Armed Forces personnel (Regular and mobilised Reserve) who experience a traumatic event are supported through the Trauma Risk Management process (TRiM). Whilst no system can detect every individual at risk of mental illness, there are measures in place to increase awareness at all levels and to mitigate the development of operational stresses. These include pre- and post-deployment briefing and the availability of support, assessment and (if required) treatment, both during and after deployments. Post-tour decompression activity which supports the readjustment and reintegration of personnel as smoothly and quickly as possible to sustain readiness has been factored into Op PITTING, with time allocated for peer-to-peer discussion on moral injury. This approach is based on experience in the COVID pandemic where soldiers returning from supporting the civilian authorities have undergone a two-day recovery programme. Each of the single Services also provide through-career mental resilience and stress management training. The MOD has also produced the HeadFIT website to encourage good management of mental fitness and an online Mental Health Fundamentals course is available to all Armed Forces personnel. Furthermore, from September 2021, all Armed Forces personnel will receive mandatory, annual, mental health and wellbeing briefing designed to increase awareness of mental health and the personal barriers that may prevent the seeking of support.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Climate Change

The Marquess of Lothian: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the recommendations ofthe Climate Change Committee in its report Independent Assessment of UK Climate Risk,published on 16 June, which highlighted a growing gap between the level of climate change risk the UK faces and the level of adaptation underway; and what steps they are taking (1) to increase UK biodiversity, and (2) to ensure the restoration and protection of wildlife habitats.

Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: The Climate Change Committee's (CCC) Independent Assessment of UK Climate Risk presented a detailed and up to date insight into the growing risks and opportunities to the UK from climate change. It will help inform greater ambition and action on enhancing resilience and inform the third Climate Change Risk Assessment Government Report, which we will lay in Parliament in January 2022. This report will state our position relative to the CCC's evidence and advice and set out a forward look for adaptation in the UK, including to the third National Adaptation Programme.   We welcome the evidence the CCC has presented and recognise the need to go further in preparing for the impacts of climate change.Domestic biodiversity policy is devolved in the UK, and this response refers to action in England. Our 25 Year Environment Plan marked a step-change in ambition for biodiversity and the natural environment and we are already taking action to fulfil this ambition.We have committed to protect 30% of our land and sea by 2030, and will be extending protections on land and piloting Highly Protected Marine Areas in English waters to boost biodiversity recovery. Since 2010 we have already established over 100 new marine protected sites. We have also brought forward the first Environment Bill in over 20 years with ambitious measures to address the biggest environmental priorities of our age, including restoring and enhancing nature. The Bill requires a new, historic legally binding target to be set to halt the decline in species abundance by 2030. This will help us to deliver our commitment to leave the environment in a better state for future generations.Furthermore, we are investing in nature restoration and in nature-based solutions to tackle biodiversity loss and climate change and to support new green jobs, for example through our £640 million Nature for Climate and £80 million Green Recovery Challenge funds.

Veterinary Medicine: Drugs

Lord Blencathra: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of progress in implementing the recommendations of the 2003 Competition Commission Report on supply of Veterinary Medicines; and what the implementation outcome is for each of the recommendations, including reasoning for those that have not been implemented.

Lord Benyon: All recommendations were implemented. 1 & 9The Veterinary Medicines Regulations (VMR) provide four distribution categories, based on the perceived risk of a veterinary medicine and striking the right balance between appropriate controls and availability.'Prescription Only Medicines - Veterinarian' (POM-V) require prescribing by a vet for animals under their care, following clinical assessment. POM-V covers those products containing narcotic or psychotropic substances or requiring veterinary diagnosis/clinical assessment. Clients may request a prescription which can be dispensed elsewhere.'POM - Veterinarian, Pharmacist, Suitably Qualified Person' (POM-VPS) and 'Non-Food Animal-VPS' products can be prescribed and/or supplied by vets, pharmacists or SQPs; without clinical assessment but with point-of-sale advice.'Authorised Veterinary Medicine - General Sales List' category covers products with safety profiles allowing distribution across a range of retailers.7The distribution category is assessed during the veterinary medicine application procedure. Factors considered in deciding the category include the need for clinical diagnosis, point-of-sale advice, administration route, nature of the product/active substance and safety profile. Cost is not considered as the scope is limited to the safety of the product for both the animal and people handling the product.8 & 3The EU centralised procedure is compulsory for products containing a new active substance, constituting significant therapeutic/scientific/technical innovation, or where a marketing authorisation (MA) is in the interest of animal health at EU level. These products are classified 'Prescription-Only' as their novelty represents an increased risk. The UK had the flexibility to assign one of its distribution categories, based on increased knowledge of the product's safety profile. Under the Northern Ireland Protocol the EU centralised system will still apply in Northern Ireland.5The Veterinary Products Committee (VPC) reviewed products over seven categories, recommending the appropriate distribution category. In some cases, this required removal of indications to support the products being more freely available via a lower distribution classification.6MA holders can apply to change the category. This will be considered by the VPC unless they previously advised on category changes for comparable products.4The VMD may grant, without requiring a full dossier, an MA for an EU-authorised medicine for import into the UK under Parallel Import provisions, provided the applicant demonstrates it is identical to a UK-authorised medicine for food-producing species, or therapeutically identical to a UK-authorised medicine for companion animals. The VMD requests a detailed description of the product's intended re-labelling.10An MA is initially valid for five years, after which it may be renewed upon re-evaluation of the risk-benefit balance. Once renewed, the MA is valid indefinitely unless pharmacovigilance raises concerns.11The VMD publishes standards and transparent targets around the assessment processes - something recognised and welcomed by industry. The VMD encourages companies to consult on their proposed MA application, particularly for exceptional MAs, prior to submission or during the process itself. After EU Exit the VMD introduced additional MA options - national-only or in parallel with an EU application to better utilise company resources.2The RCVS Code of Professional Conduct contains a chapter on fair trading requirements. This includes provision of information on medicine prices.

Home Office

Prevent Independent Review

Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many (1) individuals identifying as Muslim, and (2) organisations representing Muslims, have engaged in consultations or submitted evidence for the Independent Review of Prevent.

Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the report of the Independent Review of Prevent will provide a breakdown of the number and religious affiliation of individuals and organisations that gave evidenceto the Review, including how manywere funded by, or affiliated with, the Prevent Strategy.

Baroness Williams of Trafford: The Independent Review of Prevent is currently ongoing. The Reviewer, William Shawcross, is independent, so we cannot provide any specific details of his engagement activities to date, nor can we predetermine the findings of the Review. However, he published details of his methodology for the Review on 23 March 2021. His Ways of Working can be found here: Independent Review of Prevent: ways of working -The Independent Review of Prevent, led by William Shawcross, will gather and analyse a range of information to underpin robust, evidence-based findings and recommendations on the government’s strategy for supporting people vulnerable to being drawn into terrorism.William Shawcross will submit his report to the Home Secretary on 30 September 2021. His report, with the Government’s response to his recommendations, will be laid in the Houses of Parliament by 31 December 2021.Independent Review of Prevent - Ways of working  (pdf, 82.6KB)

Detention Centres: Inspections

Lord Roberts of Llandudno: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the recommendations by the Chief Inspector of Prisons following his visits to immigration detention facilities on the south coast of England; and how many of those recommendations have been implemented.

Baroness Williams of Trafford: In September 2020, Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Prisons carried out an unannounced inspection of the detention of migrants arriving in Dover in small boats. The report was published in October 2020, and the government’s response to the report was published at the same time.The report made 20 recommendations of which the government accepted 19. At the time of publishing the government’s response to the report, all the accepted recommendations had been either completed or partially completed.

Undocumented Migrants: Coronavirus

Lord Balfe: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether immigrants entering the UK from France illegally are required to have a COVID-19 PCR test upon detection by police or immigration officers.

Lord Balfe: To ask Her Majesty's Government what percentage of COVID-19 PCR tests on illegal immigrants to the UK have returned a positive result; and of these positive samples,what percentagehave now been genomically sequenced.

Baroness Williams of Trafford: The Home Office is following guidance published by Public Health England, Health Protection Scotland and the NHS with regards to COVID testing for migrant arrivals.All migrants are tested on arrival with a lateral flow test, any refusing are treated as if infectious and isolated. Lateral flow testing is a fast and simple way to test people who do not have symptoms of COVID-19, but who may still be spreading the virus. Arrivals who present as symptomatic or who provide a positive lateral flow test are allocated to an approved quarantine site.Due to the small possibility of false positives associated with lateral flow tests, any individual who receives a positive result at a residential short-term holding facility in England or an Immigration Removal Centre, will be offered a PRC test to confirm the result. Any detained individual with symptoms of COVID-19, or testing positive for COVID-19 will be placed in protective isolation for at least 10 days and Public Health England informed.We do not hold information regarding the percentage which have been genomically sequenced as this is the responsibility of Public Health England.

Migrants: Local Government Services

Lord Roberts of Llandudno: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assistance, if any, they have given to (1) Kent County Council, and (2) other local authorities, to meet their statutory responsibilities to (a) asylum seekers, and (b) immigrants.

Baroness Williams of Trafford: The Government has a statutory obligation to provide destitute asylum seekers with accommodation and other support whilst their application for asylum is being considered. Whilst there is no direct assistance to local authorities for asylum dispersal our accommodation providers pay council tax on the properties they procure for asylum accommodation.For unaccompanied asylum seeking children (UASC), local authorities receive funding through the Local Government Finance Settlement for all ‘looked-after children’, and in addition the Home Office pays a ‘top up’ tariff directly to local authorities for UASC and former UASC care leavers.As part of vital updates to the National Transfer Scheme, we announced more than £20m of new funding. The new tariff is £114 per UASC per day, rising to £143 if the local authority is over the 0.07% threshold, or accepts responsibility of a UASC from a higher rate receiving authority, and £270 per UASC care leaver per week. In addition, we have established a new exceptions cost fund of £3m, to support local authorities facing particular high costs for individual children. Further changes include a new national voluntary rota and increased support with age assessment.We recognise the longstanding role that Kent County Council has played in supporting these vulnerable young people and are extremely grateful for their significant contribution. We have provided substantial operational support to Kent to help alleviate the significant pressures on their children’s services, caused by small boat arrivals on the south coast.We do not provide accommodation or support for those in the UK illegally.

Undocumented Migrants: English Channel

Lord Balfe: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the factors enabling continued illegal immigration from France to England by boat across the Channel, (2) what, if any, impact the UK’s departure from the EU has had on those factors, and (3) whether the continued illegal immigration indicates that the UK has “taken back control” of its borders.

Baroness Williams of Trafford: The National Crime Agency’s National Strategic Assessment of Serious and Organised Crime for 2021 includes a section on organised immigration crime and the use of small boats. The full assessment may be found here:www.nationalcrimeagency.gov.uk/who-we-are/publications/533-national-strategic-assessment-of-serious-and-organised-crime-2021/fileThe assessment notes that, ‘The increase in small boats use is almost certainly a result of COVID-19 travel restrictions affecting freight and air transport, in addition to enhanced security around the UK-operated border controls at Calais, Coquelles and Dunkirk’ and ‘It is highly likely OCGs and migrants are attracted to the high success rate and low cost-high profit nature of small boats compared to HGV facilitation’.The UK’s departure from the EU has not made a material difference to the methods of the criminal gangs or our joint activity with European partners to stop them. The UK and France share a history of cooperation on this issue, seen in our commitments under the Sandhurst Treaty and Small Boats Action Plan and most recently via the action agreed in the joint statement between the Home Secretary and Minister Darmanin on 20 July. We have an excellent relationship with our French counterparts and are grateful for their continued commitment.Increasing numbers of French law enforcement officers, supported by UK funding, are patrolling beaches and are preventing more and more crossing attempts. Nearly 10000 crossing attempts have been prevented so far this year.The Government’s Nationality and Borders Bill will seek to reform the system, including by deterring illegal entry into the UK, breaking the business model of criminal facilitation, and saving lives.

Deportation

Lord Roberts of Llandudno: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many foreign nationals have been deported in the last 12 months, and to what countries.

Baroness Williams of Trafford: The Home Office publishes data on the number of returns from the UK in each quarter in the ‘Immigration Statistics Quarterly release’.The latest data on returns of Foreign National Offenders (FNOs) are published in Ret_02 and Ret_02q of the returns summary tables. Data on enforced returns (of which ‘deportations’ is a subset), by destination and nationality can be found in Ret_D02 of the returns detailed dataset.The latest data relate to Q4 2020. Data for Q1 2021 are due to be published on 26 August within the Immigration statistics, year ending June 2021.The term 'deportations' refers to a legally-defined subset of returns, which are enforced either following a criminal conviction, or when it is judged that a person’s removal from the UK is conducive to the public good. The published statistics refer to enforced returns which include deportations, as well as cases where a person has breached UK immigration laws and those removed under other administrative and illegal entry powers that have declined to leave voluntarily. Figures on deportations, which are a subset of enforced returns, are not separately available.The Home Office seeks to return people who do not have any legal right to stay in the UK, which includes people who:enter, or attempt to enter, the UK illegally (including people entering clandestinely and by means of deception on entry);overstay their period of legal right to remain in the UK;breach their conditions of leave;are subject to deportation action; for example, due to a serious criminal conviction andhave been refused asylum.

Visas: Afghanistan

Lord Smith of Finsbury: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to establish a rapid UK visa authorisation process for those Afghan citizens who worked in Kabul with former Royal Marine Commando Paul Farthing for the charity Nowzad.

Baroness Williams of Trafford: Our Afghan relocation policy is one of the most generous in the world and has already supported over 7,000 directly employed former Afghan staff and their families to leave Afghanistan under the Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy (ARAP). As we continue to significantly accelerate the pace of relocations, thousands more will follow.The Government is rightly prioritising the evacuation of British citizens, their family members and those who qualify for the ARAP by virtue of their work directly for and with HMG. But we are also making every effort to ensure those who are at risk by virtue of their work with charitable or humanitarian organisations are able to leave Afghanistan safely.The Home Office is committed to providing protection for vulnerable people fleeing Afghanistan. The Afghan Citizens’ Resettlement Scheme will welcome up to 5,000 vulnerable Afghans to the UK, who have been forced to flee the country, in its first year, with up to a total of 20,000 in the long-term.

Deportation: Afghanistan

Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to followthe United Nations Human Rights Commissioner's adviceto stop all returns of individuals to Afghanistan after immigration proceedings.

Baroness Williams of Trafford: Enforced returns to Afghanistan have been paused.

Cabinet Office

UK Internal Trade: Northern Ireland

Lord Dodds of Duncairn: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to publish all the EU law affecting Northern Ireland that is given effect under the provisions of the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland.

Lord Dodds of Duncairn: To ask Her Majesty's Government what role the (1) Northern Ireland Assembly, and (2) UK Parliament, have in consenting to the EU law affecting Northern Ireland under the terms of the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland.

Lord Dodds of Duncairn: To ask Her Majesty's Government what consultations they have had regarding who will represent the UK on the various bodies set up under (1) the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland, and (2) the UK–EU Trade and Co-operation Agreement.

Lord Frost: Beyond the Protocol itself, which outlines in its annexes the EU law that applies to Northern Ireland, the Government has not so far published any further material regarding rules applied by the Protocol. The Government’s Command Paper [CP 502] published on 21 July sets out alternative proposals for the basis on which EU law might apply in Northern Ireland, potentially involving the Northern Ireland institutions. This could have a significant effect on the visibility of new rules applied in Northern Ireland and how they are brought into force in UK law.Pending agreement on this potential new settlement, it is entirely right that people in Northern Ireland should be able to be fully aware of the law applying where it derives from EU acts which are not the subject of specific domestic legislation to transpose them into UK law. We will consider the best way of enabling this. We continue to urge the EU to ensure that there is proper notice of such legislation and that appropriate information is provided through the structures established by the Withdrawal Agreement. As to the bodies established under the Protocol, in line with commitments made in the New Decade, New Approach deal, representatives from the Northern Ireland Executive are invited to attend all Joint Committee and Specialised Committee meetings as part of the UK delegation when the Irish Government are attending. Representatives from the Northern Ireland Executive also form part of the UK delegation at the Joint Consultative Working Group.